How to Grow Blue-Violet Select
Wikimedia Commons
Blue-Violet Select
Viola odorata 'Blue-Violet Select'
flowerBlue-Violet Select is a fragrant violet cultivar prized for its deep blue-violet blooms and sweet perfume. This compact perennial produces charming heart-shaped leaves and is perfect for edging, containers, and early spring color. It's a heritage variety that attracts pollinators and has been valued for centuries in gardens.
When should you plant Blue-Violet Select in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Blue-Violet Select timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Blue-Violet Select
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
First Blue-Violet Select blooms
Mid-to-late summerBefore the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Blue-Violet Select dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-8; prefers cooler climates with moderate summer heat
Sign up free to see if Blue-Violet Select grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Blue-Violet Select timeline →Growth Stages
Germination & Seedling
3-4 weeksTiny seedlings with first true leaves emerge. Seeds require cold stratification (4-6 weeks of moist chilling) to break dormancy.
Keep soil moist and cool. Provide indirect light. Transplant to larger containers when true leaves appear.
Vegetative Growth
4-6 weeksPlant establishes rosette of heart-shaped, dark green leaves. Compact, bushy growth habit develops.
Maintain consistent moisture and partial shade. Pinch tips to encourage branching if desired. Begin feeding with dilute balanced fertilizer.
Bud Formation & Blooming
4-8 weeks (spring peak season)Flower buds appear among foliage on short stems. Deep blue-violet flowers open, releasing sweet fragrance.
Continue regular watering and light feeding. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage continued flowering. Provide afternoon shade to extend bloom time.
Summer Dormancy
6-10 weeksFlowering slows or stops in hot summer months. Foliage may thin; plant enters semi-dormant state.
Reduce watering slightly but maintain soil moisture. Increase shade. Avoid fertilizing. Some foliage loss is normal.
Fall Re-bloom & Winter Hardening
8-12 weeks through winterCool fall temperatures trigger renewed flowering and vigorous foliage growth. Plant prepares for winter dormancy.
Resume regular watering and feeding. Remove dead leaves. Plants are fully cold-hardy; mulch lightly in zone 3-4 if desired for extra protection.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
-
Remove affected leaves; encourage beneficial insects; use neem oil if infestation is severe
-
Increase humidity and air circulation; spray with water; use insecticidal soap in severe cases
-
and
Hand-pick; use copper tape around containers; create barriers with diatomaceous earth or wood ash
-
Improve air circulation; avoid overhead watering; apply sulfur dust or neem oil at first signs
-
Remove infected leaves promptly; improve drainage; water at soil level only; avoid overhead irrigation
Uses
Crystallized flowers & garnish
CulinaryViolet flowers and leaves are edible and can be candied with egg white and sugar for elegant dessert decoration, or fresh-floated in salads and cocktails. The delicate blooms add both beauty and subtle floral flavor to culinary creations. [source]
Traditional herbal remedy
MedicinalViolets have been used in traditional herbalism for centuries to soothe coughs, support respiratory health, and reduce inflammation. Violet leaf tea and infusions are prepared from fresh or dried plant material. [source]
Fragrance & perfumery
HouseholdThe sweet, delicate fragrance of Blue-Violet Select has made it a classic choice for perfumery and fragrant products. Flowers can be dried to scent rooms or included in potpourri. [source]
Pressed flower art & bookmarks
CraftThe flat, delicate flowers are ideal for pressing between wax paper and incorporating into pressed flower arrangements, bookmarks, resin crafts, and botanical art projects. [source]
Early spring pollinator food
WildlifeOne of the earliest nectar sources for emerging bees, butterflies, and other pollinators in spring. A valuable plant for supporting wildlife food webs during critical early season. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Harvest flowers for cutting in early morning when petals are crisp with dew. Blooms last 3-5 days in a vase with fresh water. Cut stems at leaf axil to encourage more flowers. Deadhead regularly to promote continuous blooming. Edible flowers can be harvested throughout the bloom season for crystallizing or garnishing.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Sweet violet (Viola odorata) has been cultivated for over 2,000 years; ancient Greeks associated it with modesty and love, and Napoleon famously used violets as a symbol of his return from exile.
- 🌱 The fragrance compound ionone in violet flowers is unique because it temporarily desensitizes the nose to its scent—sniff a violet, and after a few seconds your nose 'forgets' the smell, allowing you to appreciate other scents before violet fragrance returns.
- 🌱 Blue-Violet Select and other 'Czar' violets were particularly prized by Victorian gardeners and were extensively forced indoors in the 19th century for cut flower production, with hundreds of violet farms supplying fragrant blooms to markets year-round.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Blue-Violet Select planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Blue-Violet Select seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.
Get my Blue-Violet Select timeline →